Notice Board

University of Lethbridge

Office of the Vice-President (Research)

2014 Open Call for Proposals to the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)

John R. Evans Leaders Fund

Background

The John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF), formerly known as Leaders Opportunity Fund, is a program of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) that helps institutions attract and retain the very best of today’s and tomorrow’s researchers. JELF offers institutions the opportunity to acquire infrastructure for leading research faculty to undertake cutting-edge research. JELF is intended to serve the infrastructure needs of individual faculty members or small groups of up to three faculty members, when there is a demonstrated need to share the infrastructure. It is not intended to serve the infrastructure needs of larger groups, departments or institutions. 

JELF is an allocation-based fund whereby the CFI predetermines the maximum amount of funding available for each eligible institution. The allocation is available for a three year period, and is based on a measure of our institution’s research intensity using the average share of research funding received from the Tri-Council funding agencies over the last three years for which the data is available. 

Opportunity

At this time, the University of Lethbridge has an institutional allocation of approximately $200,000 available for an open Call for Proposals to support a project or projects, and the Office of the Vice-President (Research) is soliciting Letters of Intent to apply for funding in the February 15, 2015 intake cycle. 

Value

The JELF is a matching program:

• CFI usually provides funding up to a maximum of 40% of the total eligible costs of the infrastructure project.

• Up to 40% of the total eligible costs of the infrastructure project is requested from the Alberta Innovation and Advanced Education Research Capacity Program or other eligible partners

• The remaining 20% or come comes from vendor discounts (“in kind” contributions), start-up funds, etc.

As such, the $200,000 allocation available represents total project or projects costs of up to $500,000. While projects requiring this full $200,000 allocation (up to $500,000 in total project costs) will be considered, ideally this Call for Proposals will provide funding opportunity for up to 3 new projects at the University of Lethbridge.

Eligibility

This Call for Proposals is open to all current faculty members with a full-time academic appointment at the University of Lethbridge.

The candidate(s) listed on the Letter of Intent must be:

• A recognized leader or have demonstrated the potential for excellence in the proposed research field(s);

• Engaged in or embarking upon research/ technology development that is original, internationally competitive and of high quality; and/or

• A current faculty member with a full-time academic appointment or a candidate that the institution is in the process of recruiting to a full-time academic position in an area of strategic importance.

Candidates who have previously been supported by the CFI are eligible for additional funding. However, they must justify how another award would add value to their research.

Projects must:

• Propose a research or technology development program that is of high quality and originality and meets international standards

• Be essential for the research program of the candidate(s)

• Provide an enriched research training environment

• Benefit Canadians

• Be consistent with the University of Lethbridge’s Strategic Research Plan and reflect Alberta’s provincial priorities (Alberta Research and Innovation Plan). 

How to apply

In anticipation of submitting JELF project(s) to CFI on February 15, 2015, the Office of the Vice-President (Research) is soliciting Letters of Intent to apply to this funding opportunity. Letters of Intent will be reviewed and adjudicated by the Office of the Vice-President (Research), in consultation with the relevant Dean(s).  Full applications will be solicited by the Office of the Vice-President (Research) from those with approved LOIs.

The LOI (3 page maximum) must outline the:

• Proposed research or technology development

• Researcher(s)

• Need for the infrastructure

• Training of highly qualified personnel

• Benefits to Canadians

• Fit with the U of L Strategic Research Plan and investment(s) that U of L has made over the past decade to elevate the proposed area of research

• Budget

For the proposal(s) recommended for submission to the CFI, project leaders will be expected to work with a grants facilitator from the Office of Research and Innovation Services on their full proposals, beginning in October 2014. 

Letters of Intent must be received by 4:00pm on Wednesday, October 1, 2014. Late submissions will not be accepted. Submissions may be e-mailed directly to Matthew Letts at matthew.letts@uleth.ca.

Questions?

Questions about CFI and this funding opportunity can be directed to Gillian Laird (gillian.laird@uleth.ca) in the Office of Research and Innovation Services. 

Additional information

Full description of this Call for Proposals: http://www.uleth.ca/research-services/researchservices/faculty-funding/external/cfi

Details on the CFI JELF program:http://www.innovation.ca/OurFunds/CFIFunds/JohnREvansLeadersFund/Docs

CFI Instructions and link to guidelines for completing a full JELF proposal:

http://www.innovation.ca/OurFunds/CFIFunds/JohnREvansLeadersFund/Docs

Alberta Innovation and Advanced Education Research Capacity Program (matching funds) and link to guidelines:

http://eae.alberta.ca/research/rcp/research-capacity-program.aspx